Most UN Members Lag on Drive Against Al Qaeda

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UNITED NATIONS (*******) - More than half of U.N. members have yet to report on their efforts to crack down on the al Qaeda network, as required by the Security Council in September 2001, a council diplomat said on Monday.

To date, just 93 of the United Nations' 191 member-states have filed reports with the Security Council committee charged with monitoring U.N. sanctions on al Qaeda and Afghanistan's former Taliban rulers, said Chilean Ambassador Heraldo Munoz, the committee's chairman.

The council plans to adopt a resolution on Friday that would put more pressure on noncomplying countries and also tighten the sanctions and facilitate international cooperation in battling terrorism, Munoz told reporters.

A resolution approved by the council soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States requires all U.N. members to freeze the assets of any individual or group suspected of ties to al Qaeda or the Taliban. Washington blamed Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda for masterminding the attacks and the Taliban for offering al Qaeda safe haven in Afghanistan.

The resolution also orders governments to block suspects' movements and bar them from obtaining arms, funds or other resources. Munoz's committee compiles the official lists of suspected groups and individuals, based on information submitted by governments.

"International terrorism sponsored by al Qaeda and those associated with this network continue to pose one of the greatest threats to international peace and security. As such, it must be combated by all means, both at national and international levels," Munoz told the Security Council.

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WARNING ON 'WEAK LINKS'

U.S. envoy Stuart Holliday urged the committee to work more effectively by focusing more on money moving through informal banking systems and suspect charities.

He also called for a crack-down on those governments not meeting the U.N. reporting requirements.

"Unwilling states, if any, that lack sufficient political will to address the al Qaeda threat must first be encouraged -- and, if necessary, later pressured -- to do more," he said.

"We, the Security Council, would be negligent in our duties if we were to allow any weak links to undermine our shared counter-terrorism objectives. Al Qaeda surely would exploit them," Holliday said.


Algeria's U.N. ambassador, Abdallah Baali, called on the council committee to release the names of those countries that had failed to file their reports, along with their reasons.
Baali also expressed surprise that the committee's official list named just 371 groups and individuals suspected of links to al Qaeda or the Taliban. He blamed governments that hesitated to share their intelligence findings or refused to acknowledge that al Qaeda affiliates might be operating within their borders.

French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere called for a one-year time limit on the new sanctions regime to be voted on Friday, so the sanctions could be reviewed annually.

While Paris has argued for the past several years that all U.N. sanctions should have expiration dates, Washington wants the al Qaeda sanctions to remain in place until the council decides to abolish them.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

This is further evidence that not everybody is on the same page when it comes to fighting these people. While every standing government surely sees terrorism as a threat - many of these governments obviously agree with Al-Qaeda's goals.

This is why the UN doesn't work. The name should be changed from "The UN" to simply "The N". When you can't even get consensus on something as basic as this, there's no hope of the body even being relevant. They have Syria on the security council. If it weren't so serious, it would be laughable.

The UN continues to be a playground for the elite, as they enjoy privilege, world travel, status, and the veneer of respectability while accomplishing nothing.

[army cadet_ngcsu]

most of the nations making up the UN are muslims or either just plain old anti American and anti Israel.

[pAt]

yea but Terrisom is a world wide thing you gotta think of that too... i think the western world should launch a major offensive against the al Qaeda and take them down in one shot! sounds easy in words but its possable to pull it off with the amount of training and equipment we have

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

Before any of you guys get carried away and start shooting from the hip at these UN members that are uncooperative or just plain lazy to do anything about Al Q its worth mentioning that the US government took over two decades to do anything about the transfer of funds to the IRA in Northern Ireland from the US, meanwhile we in the UK were subjected to a bombing campaign that targeted public places such as shopping centers and pubs. Its easy not to think of the consequences of putting a couple of bucks into the tin for the widows and orphans back in the old country but the security measures and concerns US citizens are now facing are the same ones that we have faced for two decades all because of the charitable nature of Americans and the could not give a damn attitude of the US government.

[army cadet_ngcsu]

That is unfortunatly true

[usa320]

True indeed. If i was president not only would i have made sure the IRA got no money, but i woulda helped the Brits kick their arses.


But im not in charge now am i.

I think the UN will become more and more irrelevent with time.

European members of NATO who were traditionally our allies will decrease in importance, and new members of NATO will increase their influence. Countries like Turkey and Poland and more of the eastern european countries.

Eventually it will go back to the way it used to be, every nation for itself. To be honest, it seems things get done better that way than when done through the UN. Look at the delegation that was allowed into NK or the talks with libya.

[fantassin]

"European members of NATO who were traditionally our allies will decrease in importance, and new members of NATO will increase their influence. Countries like Turkey and Poland and more of the eastern european countries. "


Do you actually believe this or are you just sharing wishful thinking? or are you just listing suppletive troops the US will be able to order around to do the foot slogging while they control the UAVs and the Stealth bombers?

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

This is a good idea it looks a bit sinister but it will prove its worth over time.The FBI can now obtain records from financial institutions without requiring permission from a judge. The institution can't tell the target person that his records were taken by the FBI. And the term "financial institution" has been expanded to include insurance companies, travel agencies, real estate agents, stockbrokers, the U.S. Postal Service, jewelry stores, casinos, and car dealerships. This should have been done decades ago.

http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,61792,00.html

[RealUltimatePower]

Bomb Saudi Arabia